^ sorry for the confusion- i wasnt the one that originally started the thread i just stated my problem as it pretained to the topic. thanks whites2k i'll do a search right now

 

the reason is so you can make the car actually sit level, using a finger to say, o my finger can fit in here and on the other side doesnt make the measurments the same, take a tap measure and measure, its not dificult and you will know for sure.

 

Since you just preloaded your suspension recently, can you help me with my coilover? I have the Bilstein PSS9 (not sure what you have) for over a month now, uninstalled. I was wondering how do I preload them. The instruction say just let the car down before you tighten any rubber mounts. This seems pretty straight forward. It doesn't say to preload them too any specific distance. Are there any other tips you or anyone can offer me before I attack this job.

 

Preloading the springs is different from preloading the suspension.

Preloading springs means you got to adjust the height of the spring relative to the upper spring mounting point. Hence preloading. You are loading/unloading the spring tension. More or less you are "tensioning" the spring.

Preloading the suspension means you are adjusting the upper A-arm and the lower control arm (LCA) to "ride height"

To preload the suspension measure the the distance from the center of the hub (middle of "H" emblem) to the fender. Be sure the upper A-arm bolts are loose. Now jack the car up, take the wheels off, loosen upper A-arm, put jack under the LCA and jack up to "ride height" and tighten 2 bolts on the upper A-arm. This is how I preloaded my front suspension.

Anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

 

you are correct in preloading. if you car is very uneven from side to side, chances are its not because you didnt preload it though. If you did both sides without preoading them they should technically sit the same height on both sides. are you sure your didnt install the front spring on one side and the rear spring on the other side.... as dumd as it sounds you may want to check that.

 

[QUOTE=smracer31,Mar 6 2006, 07:36 PM] you are correct in preloading. if you car is very uneven from side to side, chances are its not

 

so, first we jack up the car to loosen the upper A-arm bolts (2 of them). Then we lower the car to measure ride height. Then we put it on jack stands to jack up the LCA to the distance that we meared? Is this right? How come the instructions that came with my Bilsteins didn't say anything about preloading the suspenison. All it said was "all rubber mounted struts/shocks absorbers must be tighten after the vehicle is let down to the ground." Are they talking about just the nut that holds the shaft of the damper in place? Thanks guys for any inputs.

 

It seems you are correct. You are "simulating" putting your car on the ground by jacking it up to "ride height." Of course it will be a lot easier if you can drive up on a lift. Then all you do is loosen the 2 Arm bolts then tighten them.

What I did is jack the car up until the frame came off the jackstand and then lowered it until it rested back on the frame and matched my measurements. Then I tightened the 2 bolts. Not perfect but with my limited resources it will do.

As far as preloading the suspension it states it in the Helms manual to preload the suspension before tightening the bushings.

 

thanks for the info., SOHCmyDOHC.